Player Updates

The Browns announced Thursday that Griffin (shoulder) will start Sunday's game against the Bengals, Michael Silver of the NFL Network reports.

There had been speculation since Griffin was cleared for contact last week that he would be under center in Week 14, and the team confirmed Thursday that he will do just that. Sunday's game will be Griffin's first action since Week 1, so he may have a little rust to shake off. However, the Browns want to give him another shot to show what he can do so they can try to finally get in the win column, and also evaluate his prospects for 2017. Griffin will be challenged in his first game back, as he will take on a Bengals squad that allowed just three total passing touchdowns over its last three games.

ESPN's Dan Graziano relayed Wednesday that "barring an unforeseen health setback," the Browns plan to start Griffin (shoulder) at QB on Sunday against the Bengals.

The 0-12 Browns have yet to confirm the assignment, and Griffin -- who last played in Week 1 -- must first be activated from IR/Designated to Return for it to transpire. Of course, getting a closer look at Griffin down the stretch would help allow the Browns to make a more informed decision regarding whether they feel the QB merits a longer look next season.

Griffin (shoulder) is a candidate to start Sunday's game against the Bengals, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

The Browns will not make a final call on their starting quarterback for Week 14 for a few more days, but if Griffin -- the team's Week 1 starter who was cleared for contact during last week's bye -- is able to make it through practice this week without a setback, it seems there is a good chance he gets the nod over Josh McCown (finger) and Cody Kessler as the Browns look to pick up their first win of the season.

Griffin was cleared for non-contact work a couple weeks ago, but he has now been cleared to participate in all football activates again, setting the stage for him to resume playing if head coach Hue Jackson sees fit. The Browns are on bye in Week 13, which will give both coach and team extra time to evaluate Griffin, Cody Kessler, and Josh McCown and determine who will be under center when the team returns to action in Week 14 against the Bengals.

Griffin is scheduled for an examination of his left shoulder this week to determine if he can take contact, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Browns' long-awaited bye week has arrived, but a quarterback quandary could be in the offing. Josh McCown has fared OK in back-to-back starts for rookie Cody Kessler, who was cleared from the concussion protocol Monday. If Griffin also throws his hat into the ring in the near future, head coach Hue Jackson will have a difficult decision to make for Cleveland's next game on Dec. 11 against the Bengals. Hence the reason Jackson told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal that "it's too early to name a starting quarterback" for Week 14. Griffin has been sidelined since breaking the coracoid bone in his left shoulder during the regular season opener.